Sheppard Steering Box issues

[crane operator]

2003 Link Belt HTC 8640 with a sheppard steering gear box. Just purchased the crane, got trucked in to us, and its leaking oil from the power steering box. Its missing the pressed in metal cap that seals the shaft, and it pushes oil out the small hole where the yellow arrow is.

What I'm wondering is- did the cap get pushed off by the oil coming from the center of that shaft, or is oil supposed to come out there, and work its way back into the case through the bearing lower down. The cap just drives in- like a old boat trailer axle cover, so I know it won't hold pressure.

The bolts around the shaft- hold half moon clips that act like a snap ring holding in a machined groove in the steering housing, holding I assume a bearing or bushing that supports the shaft.

Link belt says the cap isn't available, and Sheppard says the box is obsolete and they don't know a part # for the cap- they might get back to me.

Box is a Sheppard M110 P1

My local machine shop is making me a steel cover (replacement cap). I'm planning on welding a washer to it, and a piece of wire tied to the box, so if the oil pushes the cover off, at least I won't lose the cover. But if someone knew how this part of the box is supposed to work- and if mine's messed up, I'd love the info.

Photo one yellow arrow shows where fluid is coming from, picture two is the box missing a cap pictured from below before I got access, photo three shows a steering box with the cap from a identical crane I own.


I guess I could pop the cover off the other crane's steering box, and see if it has oil running out that same pilot hole in operation, and then just drive the cover back in.

 

[1693TA]

Don't know if either of these are of any use but that is called a "clip style" cover for the sector shaft. In the second link you can see it on pages 50, and 59. It is also referenced towards the end of the document referencing some had a vent hole, some closed and it should be sealed if open to preclude foreign matter intrusion.

Have never seen an M110 myself.

RH Sheppard | M110™

www.rhsheppard.com

https://www.rhsheppard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/mseriesmanual.pdf

 

[shopguy]

Filter or return line plugged up will that plug out

 

[crane operator]

I should add that this is dual steering box set up, this box is the master, and there's a slave over on the passenger side.

The pump and system I think uses the oil from the hydraulic tank for the crane, so there's a return filter usually on the tank for all returning oil.

Could I be getting return line restriction from the "slave"?

 

[Truck Shop]

Is it using the same fluid your other crane has? I'm surprised the steering is sharing the same fluid
as the hydraulic tank.

Those hoses look original.

 

[crane operator]

From looking at the pictures of the manual, and looking at my own pictures, my two cranes are not the same.

I may not actually need any kind of a cover made for this box, its evidently factory, and there's some kind of relief plug that's supposed to be in the center of the shaft/ cover.

 

[crane operator]

Is it using the same fluid your other crane has?

They both have aw32 or 46 hydraulic oil running in them.

The steering box that's leaking is in the crane that's new to me. I couldn't tell you what weight oil is in it, it just looks and smells like hyd. oil.

I just thought the cover popped off in transport, but its possible it has other issues either from being chained down on the lowboy, or its one of the reasons they were selling it.

 

[crane operator]

This is from the manual

 

[Truck Shop]

There are places that will rebuild that box if necessary, although Shepperd tends to be pricey.

 

[Tenwheeler]

2003 Link Belt HTC 8640 with a sheppard steering gear box. Just purchased the crane, got trucked in to us, and its leaking oil from the power steering box. Its missing the pressed in metal cap that seals the shaft, and it pushes oil out the small hole where the yellow arrow is.

What I'm wondering is- did the cap get pushed off by the oil coming from the center of that shaft, or is oil supposed to come out there, and work its way back into the case through the bearing lower down. The cap just drives in- like a old boat trailer axle cover, so I know it won't hold pressure.

The bolts around the shaft- hold half moon clips that act like a snap ring holding in a machined groove in the steering housing, holding I assume a bearing or bushing that supports the shaft.

Link belt says the cap isn't available, and Sheppard says the box is obsolete and they don't know a part # for the cap- they might get back to me.

Box is a Sheppard M110 P1

My local machine shop is making me a steel cover (replacement cap). I'm planning on welding a washer to it, and a piece of wire tied to the box, so if the oil pushes the cover off, at least I won't lose the cover. But if someone knew how this part of the box is supposed to work- and if mine's messed up, I'd love the info.

Photo one yellow arrow shows where fluid is coming from, picture two is the box missing a cap pictured from below before I got access, photo three shows a steering box with the cap from a identical crane I own.


I guess I could pop the cover off the other crane's steering box, and see if it has oil running out that same pilot hole in operation, and then just drive the cover back in.


View attachment 286537


View attachment 286539View attachment 286540

I cannot answer that but when I have had questions like that I called steering specialists in Atlanta. They have had good turn around times on rebuilding them. Common boxes I have bought from the dealer or an independent supplier ( they are just a distributor ) but no down time that way.

 

[crane operator]

The last sheppard box I had rebuilt- I sent to a place in texas. But for the life of me- I can't remember the place I sent it to.

I'm going to do some more investigating before I tear this box off, thanks so much for all the info so far guys, I really appreciate it.

 

[1693TA]

Give this place a call: https://www.pss1.com/

They've helped me a lot in the past with not so common problems.

 

[crane operator]

Update: All three steering box rebuilder guys said the same thing. If the box is leaking from the sector cap, the seal on the inner shaft is bad and it needs rebuilt.

Two of them said to think of it like the weep hole on a water pump, when it starts to leak- that's your warning sign.

I was having difficulties getting a exact "sub" model number, in addition to the 110P, but we finally got the box out and cleaned enough to find it stamped to the sector shaft machined surface. Without the sub number, I was going to have to send mine off to be rebuilt. And with the current sheppard steering box recall, everyone was weeks out.

But with the sub number, I was able to find a exchange from weller truck parts, ordered it today, and it should be here before the end of next week, and then I can send them my core.

Thanks for the help guys, I appreciate it.

 

[Welder Dave]

Are you sure you're not a mechanic in disguise? You do a lot of more complicated repairs than some licensed mechanics.